Chapter 30: A Promising Future

Nan Rou glared at Nan Yunqi, furious. "Father, how could you say that about my husband? He has done so much for the Nan Family — given us so many precious Cultivation Techniques and martial arts. He is the one who saved our family. Saying things like that, aren't you just breaking his heart?"

Seeing Nan Rou's fierce reaction, Qin Guan quickly grabbed her arm and tried to calm her down. "Rou'er, let it go. No matter what, he is still my father-in-law. If he wants to scold me, I can take it."

Nan Rou wrenched herself free and snapped, "No, I won't take it. Before, no matter how much I was wronged, I could always endure it — but I will never allow anyone in the Nan Family to hurt my husband!"

Nan Rou, who was usually as gentle and obedient as a little lamb, had suddenly transformed into a fierce little wildcat.

Qin Guan quietly stepped back a pace, slipping out of Nan Rou's line of sight — and then shot Nan Yunqi a smug, triumphant look.

Nan Yunqi's expression darkened to its absolute limit. He had never expected that Nan Rou would launch into such a blistering tirade against him without even asking what had happened.

In that moment, he suddenly realized that this daughter he had raised from childhood no longer held him as her closest person. In her heart, Qin Guan had become the most important one.

"Qin Guan — well played!" Nan Yunqi flung his sleeve and stormed out of the hall in a fury.

"Husband, I'm sorry — you were wronged!" After Nan Yunqi left, Nan Rou felt both heartache and guilt. Being called a live-in son-in-law like that — how hurtful that must have been!

"Ha! With you defending me like this, I don't feel wronged at all." Qin Guan laughed and threw his arm around Nan Rou's shoulders as they walked out of the hall together.

That afternoon, Jiang Lianyue sent five Formation Masters to begin constructing cultivation chambers for the Nan Family. When word spread that the Formation Masters were from Tianbao Pavilion, the entire Nan Family was beside themselves with excitement.

Over the past few days, they had been cultivating using the Profound-grade Cultivation Techniques, and their strength had visibly risen by several levels. They were now eager to use the cultivation chambers to test and consolidate their gains.

Meanwhile, Old Mo led two others alongside Nan Yunqi to the Xiao Family estate.

Ever since Xiao Yun had been killed by Qin Guan and Xiao Yeshan had been crippled, the Xiao Family had shut its gates tight. Its disciples avoided going out whenever possible, abandoning their former arrogance entirely and retreating into their shell.

Looking up at the imposing, grand gatehouse of the Xiao Family, Nan Yunqi still felt a flicker of apprehension. After all, the Xiao Family had once been the foremost clan in Luyun City — even a dead camel is bigger than a horse.

"Why have you stopped, Family Head Nan?" Old Mo frowned, seeing Nan Yunqi hesitating at the Xiao Family's gate.

Nan Yunqi turned to Old Mo with a worried look. "Old Mo, are you sure the four of us are enough?"

"If Family Head Nan is afraid, you may wait outside. The three of us will go in." Old Mo said, his expression blank.

With their combined strength, the three of them were more than capable of sweeping through every clan in Luyun City. They were the Wei Kingdom's royal shadow guards — a minor clan like the Xiao Family wasn't even worth a second glance.

"Afraid? Ha." Nan Yunqi gave a dismissive snort, then stepped forward and knocked on the Xiao Family's gate.

"Who's there?" A guard inside called out warily at the sound of the knock.

"I am Nan Yunqi. I have come to pay a visit," Nan Yunqi announced in a clear, carrying voice.

"Our Family Head is not receiving guests!" the guard replied.

"I am not here to see your Family Head. Please call out Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong," Nan Yunqi said in a stern tone.

"They are not at our Xiao Family estate," the guard said.

"Not there? Where have they gone?" Nan Yunqi asked quickly.

"Don't know."

Nan Yunqi fell silent. Had the two of them been scared off?

"Family Head Nan, please step aside." Old Mo walked forward.

Nan Yunqi glanced at Old Mo and moved to the side.

Boom!

The moment Nan Yunqi stepped back, Old Mo drove his fist into the Xiao Family's gate, and it exploded apart.

"How dare you — our Xiao Family—"

Bang!

Before the guards inside could finish their words, their bodies were sent flying.

"We're under attack! We're under attack!" Seeing Old Mo and the others storm into the courtyard, one of the Xiao Family guards shouted at the top of his lungs.

Within moments, dozens of Xiao Family members came rushing out!

Xiao Yeshan swept his gaze over Nan Yunqi's group. Finding no sign of Qin Guan, he erupted in fury. "Nan Yunqi, you've got some nerve — you dare force your way into my Xiao Family?!"

Seeing the murderous looks on the Xiao Family members' faces, Nan Yunqi's eyelid twitched and he quickly stepped forward with a conciliatory smile. "Family Head Xiao, please don't be angry. I only came to find someone."

Nan Yunqi hadn't expected Old Mo to be so brutish — smashing the Xiao Family's gate to pieces right off the bat. Now he was starting to feel a little uneasy himself.

"Nan Yunqi, don't tell me you've come to ask us to return to the Nan Family?"

Just then, a mocking laugh rang out from the back of the crowd.

Moments later, Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong stepped to the front, leading more than twenty Nan Family disciples behind them.

"The guard just said you weren't at the Xiao Family estate. Don't tell me you've even changed your surnames?" Nan Yunqi said coldly upon seeing the two of them.

Nan Shunda shot back immediately, "What does it matter to you whether we're here or not? Nan Yunqi, you came here to beg us to come back, didn't you? Let me tell you — there is no chance we're returning to the Nan Family!"

By now, anyone with eyes could see that Qin Guan had killed an Elder from the Spirit Sword Academy, and the Spirit Sword Academy would not let the matter rest.

By the timing of things, the Spirit Sword Academy's people should be arriving in Luyun City very soon. Nan Yunqi coming here at this moment could only mean he wanted to ask them to return to the Nan Family and face the Spirit Sword Academy together.

Nan Yunqi couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "You think far too highly of yourselves. My Nan Family has no habit of taking back trash. I came today to reclaim property that belongs to the Nan Family. If you two know what's good for you, hand it over now!"

Nan Shunda flew into a rage. "Nan Yunqi, what kind of daydream are you having in broad daylight?! The assets the Nan Family has built up over the years belong to all of us — why should we give them to you?!"

Nan Yuantong also fixed his gaze on Nan Yunqi. "Nan Yunqi, we have already severed our ties with the Nan Family. You have no right to interfere with us!"

At that moment, Old Mo suddenly threw a punch.

Bang!

Nan Shunda, who had been standing at the front, was sent flying, spitting blood.

Profound Mastery Realm!

Sensing Old Mo's cultivation level, everyone present was instantly stunned. When had the Nan Family gained a Profound Mastery Realm expert?!

Realizing that Old Mo was a Profound Mastery Realm master, Nan Yunqi, who had still been a little nervous, suddenly felt a surge of confidence. He looked coldly at Nan Shunda and the others. "Hand over the Nan Family's assets at once — or I'll beat you to death!"

The moment those words fell, Nan Yuantong and the others panicked. Every one of them turned their eyes toward Xiao Yeshan.

"Give it to them," Xiao Yeshan said without a moment's hesitation. These outsiders who had defected to the Xiao Family — he had no intention of offending a Profound Mastery Realm expert for their sake.

Hearing this, Nan Yuantong and the others' faces fell. If they handed over their assets, they'd have nothing left to live on!

"Ugh—!"

While Nan Yuantong was still hesitating, Old Mo's fist sent him flying.

Nan Yuantong had barely hit the ground when Old Mo appeared before him, planting a foot on his chest.

"Spare me, good sir — I'll give it! I'll give it!" Nan Yuantong cried out in terror, begging for mercy.

Old Mo turned his expressionless gaze toward Nan Shunda.

Nan Shunda shuddered in fright and scrambled over. "I'll give it all to you too!"

In short order, the two men produced the deeds to the Nan Family's various shops and properties. Faced with a Profound Mastery Realm expert, they were completely powerless.

Nan Yunqi hurried over to examine the deeds. After confirming everything was in order, he gave Old Mo a nod.

"Let's go." Old Mo turned and left.

Watching Old Mo and the other two depart, Nan Yunqi quickly followed. He hadn't expected Old Mo to be a Profound Mastery Realm expert. As expected — having the bigger fist truly was the way of things. This whole affair had been resolved far too easily.

After the group left, Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong approached Xiao Yeshan.

"Family Head Xiao, are we really just going to swallow this?" Nan Shunda pressed his hand to his chest, seething with indignation.

Xiao Yeshan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't be hasty. We've endured this many days already — what's a little longer? Once the experts from the Spirit Sword Academy arrive, Qin Guan and the entire Nan Family will all die!"

"I wonder what kind of people the Spirit Sword Academy will send, and when they'll arrive."

Nan Shunda glanced at Xiao Yeshan. Over the past few days, he had noticed that Xiao Yeshan had been secretly exchanging messages with someone — it had to be related to the Spirit Sword Academy.

"Shunda, aren't you asking a few too many questions?" Xiao Yeshan suddenly turned to look at Nan Shunda.

"I wouldn't dare. Qin Guan is no weakling, and that Old Mo just now is no simple figure either. I'm just a little worried…"

Before Nan Shunda could finish, Xiao Yeshan let out a mocking laugh. "Shunda, don't you think your worrying is rather laughable?"

Nan Shunda's expression stiffened, then he quickly threw his head back with a laugh. "Ha ha! I was thinking too small!"

Doubting the strength of the Spirit Sword Academy — that truly was laughable.

"Ha ha!"

Immediately after, Nan Yuantong and the more than twenty Nan Family disciples all burst out laughing as well. As long as the Nan Family was wiped out, they could follow the Xiao Family from then on — the future was full of promise!